- The document summarizes a watershed development project in Sarahan, Himachal Pradesh from 2003-2008. The project involved constructing various water harvesting structures like silpaulin-lined tanks, cement tanks, and roof-top harvesting to increase water availability. - As a result of the project, irrigation potential and intensity increased significantly. The average distance to water sources decreased from 1.53km to 0.29km. Cropping intensity and area under high-value crops like tomatoes and garlic increased substantially. - Different types of tanks constructed varied in costs, safety, and lifespan. Silpaulin tanks had the lowest cost but were most prone to damage. RCC tanks were most expensive but durable.

1. Success Story of Sarahan
Watershed District Sirmour
(Himachal Pradesh)
(2003-08)
CSKHPKV, Hill Agricultural Research & Extension Centre,
Dhaulakuan
Project Implementing Agency

2. Project Leader: Dr. R.S.RANA
Scientist ( Agriculture Engineering)
• Associates:
• Dr. MANOJ GUPTA (Agri. Economics)
• Dr. H.L.THAKUR ( Associate Director)

3. Typical watershed

4. WEEKLY RAINFALL PROBABILITIES
SW 50P 80P SW 50P 80P SW 50P 80P SW 50P 80P
J1 0 0 A2 0 0 J2 77 19 O1 0 0
J8 0 0 A9 0 0 J9 106 44 O8 0 0
J15 0 0 A16 0 0 J16 115 56 O15 0 0
J22 2 0 A23 0 0 J23 153 53 O22 0 0
J29 1 0 A30 2 0 J30 150 50 O29 0 0
F5 2 0 M7 2 0 A6 154 65 N5 0 0
F12 15 0 M14 2 0 A13 116 60 N12 0 0
F19 5 0 M21 2 0 A20 107 36 N19 0 0
F25 9 0 M28 0 0 A27 73 5 N26 0 0
M5 2 0 J4 8 0 S3 52 2 D3 0 0
M12 1 0 J11 27 2 S10 40 3 D10 0 0
M19 5 0 J18 34 2 S17 7 0 D17 0 0
M26 4 0 J25 56 30 S24 0 0 D24 3 0

5. MONTHLY RAINFALL PROBABILITIES
Month 50 per cent 80 per cent
January 36 0
February 73 16
March 45 7
April 15 0
May 39 0
June 170 93
July 485 251
August 537 390
September 140 107
October 2 0
November 0 0
December 20 0
Kharif(May-Sep) 1446 1229
Rabi (Oct-Apr) 257 180
Annual(Jan-De) 1791 1392

6. MAXIMUM DAILY PROBABLE RAINFALL
Return Period (Years) Probability (Per cent) Max prob.daily rainfall
(mm)
1.0101 99 56
1.0526 95 78
1.1111 90 91
1.25 80 110
2 50 152
5 20 210
10 10 248
20 5 285*
50 2 333
100 1 368
200 0.50 403
500 0.20 450
1000 0.10 485
2000 0.05 520
5000 0.02 567
10000 0.01 602

13. SOIL MAP OF THE WATERSHED

14. LAND USE PATTERN OF WATERSHED

15. Watershed characteristics
• Total geographical area is 517 ha
• Pacchad Block of Sirmour Distt
• 77°11΄22΄΄ to 77°12΄46΄΄ East longitude
• 30°42΄40΄΄ to 30°44΄05΄΄ North latitude
• Mid Hill Sub-Humid Zone of H.P.
• Elevation 1350 m to 1600 m a.m.s.l.
• Sarahan watershed lies in catchment area
of Giri river which is tributary of Yamuna
river.
• Chir pine and ban oak are predominant
forest species.

25. Major Problems
• Water scarcity
• Damage to crops by wild animals
• Fodder scarcity
• Insect & pest problems in crops
• Lower productivity of agri crops
• Lower productivity, parasitic and
repeat breeding problems in livestock

60. Construction cost of Silpaulin
lined and Cemented tanks
Particulars Approx Cost /litre (Rs)
Silpaulin tanks 0.50
Brick lined tanks 1.00
RCC tanks 2.00

83. Table- 3: Comparative economics of irrigation potential created by Brick lined and R.C.C. tanks.
Type of
tank
Size of tank Capacity
(litres)
Cost
(Rs)
Cost of
stored
water
(Rs/
litre)
Average
cost of
stored
water
(Rs/ litre
Length
(m)
width
(m)
depth
(m)
1.Brick
lined
15.2 6.2 2.7 2,55,000 2,82,000 1.10
1.001.Brick
lined
12.2 6.1 2.6 1,94,000 1,90,000 0.98
1.Brick
lined
10.0 8.2 1.8 1,48,000 1,36,000 0.92
1.R.C.C. 8.2 5.2 3.0 1,28,000 2,54,000 1.98
2.001.R.C.C. 7.5 4.4 2.0 66,000 1,16,000 1.76
1.R.C.C. 8.0 4.5 1.8 65,000 1,47,000 2.26

84. Table-4: Total water storage created and corresponding irrigation potential
generated in the watershed.
Type of tanks
No. Capacity
(cubic meter)
Irrigation potential (ha.)
Tomato Garlic
Silpaulin lined tanks 36 2618 13.56 13.56
Cemented pucca tanks 6 856 4.44 4.44
Roof-top water harvesting
tanks
27 216 0.75 0.75
Total 69 3690 18.75 18.75

85. Table-5: Impact of rain water harvesting on cropping pattern.
Crops
Total area in the watershed (ha.)
Before project After project Change
Cereals
Wheat 21.38 18.25 -3.13
Maize 21.38 13.83 -7.55
Sub total 42.76 32.08 -10.68
Vegetables
Tomato 15.29 22.13 6.84
Capsicum 14.83 18.13 3.30
Garlic 2.46 6.63 4.17
Ginger 8.38 10.67 2.29
Others 0.08 2.24 2.16
Sub total 41.04 59.80 18.76
Total 83.80 91.88 8.08

86. Table-6: Distance of water sources from farmers fields.
Distance of water source
Number of farmers
Before Project After
Project
< 1 Km 56 124
1-2 Km 61 0
> 2 Km 7 0
Average distance 1.53 Km 0.29 Km

87. Table-7: Impact of rain water harvesting on irrigation intensity in the watershed.
Number of irrigation
Number of farmers
Before Project After Project
< 1 109 0
2 15 5
3 0 6
4 0 107
> 4 0 6
Average irrigation intensity 0.57 3.94

88. Table-8: Comparison of different tanks on various parameters.
Particulars
Silpaulin
tanks
Brick lined
tanks
R.C.C.
tanks
Roof- top
water
harvesting
tanks
Cost
( Rs. Per
litre)
Lowest
(Rs. 0.50)
Higher
( Rs. 1.00)
Highest
(Rs. 2.00)
Moderate
( Rs. 1.50)
Life span >15 years 10-15 years 10-15 years 10-15 years
Safety Most safe Prone to
cracks
Prone to
cracks
Prone to
cracks
Water
source
Runoff or
perennial
water spring
Runoff +
Perennial
water
spring
Runoff +
Perennial
water
spring
Runoff
Ownership Single Joint Joint Single

111. Thank you